Mobility widens people’s horizons: Small children gleefully dart about the house on their Bobbycars; later they learn to ride a bike and their radius of action expands, and as soon as they grow up they want to drive fast cars or powerful motor bikes and discover the world.

 

If the forecasts are correct, the number of automobiles in Germany will rise to 50 million by the year 2015. At the same time, goods traffic will increase by 60 percent, because in the age of globalization more and more products – from refrigerators and cameras to tropical fruit and jeans – travel thousands of miles before they reach the consumer.

In order for people and goods to reach their destinations quickly in the future, Fraunhofer researchers are developing technologies that will enable drivers to avoid traffic jams and accidents, encourage wider use of public transportation, and optimize the flow of merchandise.

 

Simulation systems allow the effects of planned construction sites, new roads and routes to be visualized before they are built. The new software enables traffic planners to optimize their development projects long before the excavators and bulldozers set to work.

 

If traffic jams nevertheless occur, intelligent navigation systems which constantly receive and process the latest traffic information will help drivers to avoid them. The new systems can analyze several alternative routes using different modes of transportation. They then indicate the quickest route, taking into account the time of day and traffic situation.

Mobility is not possible without some risk, but technical developments can achieve enormous improvements in safety. Fraunhofer researchers are testing the reliability of materials used in automobile construction. And they are conducting work on innovative safety concepts – for example on a new, intelligent side impact protection system for automobiles.

In the event of a major disaster, mobility makes the difference between life and death. The emergency services and rescue vehicles must reach the scene quickly, and the injured must be transported to hospital. Modern software makes it easier to manage emergencies. At the click of a mouse the head of operations can retrieve the latest traffic reports, and information on river levels and the infrastructure in the close vicinity and the further surrounding area. The program also assists in the cross-border coordination of rescue services.